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We've compiled a list of the 11 Cash Back Deals currently available on CreditDonkey.

Cash Back Credit Cards

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Using a credit card with cash back can be a great way to stretch your budget and be rewarded for your purchases. As long as you pay your balance in full each billing cycle, the card issuers are essentially paying you to use their card. Plus, cash back rewards are usually easier to understand than rewards programs involving points and miles.

Which Cash Back Credit Card is Right for You?

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We think you'll agree with us when we say:

It's REALLY hard to figure out which cashback credit card to apply for.

1.5% Cash Back (with Signup Bonus)

Do you have excellent credit?Chase Freedom Unlimited lets you earn a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. You earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. There is also a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.24-24.99%. The balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum. The cash back rewards will not expire as long as your card account remains open. There is no annual fee.

5% on Rotating Bonus Categories

If you don’t mind being a bit strategic in your spending, these kinds of cards could offer some of the best value because you can get up to 5% cash back (which is a huge return in the credit card world).

Basically, every three months, there are new categories (or merchants) for which you can receive 5% cash back for purchases (up to a quarterly maximum). You need to do a bit of homework to keep track of the changing categories and make sure you’re charging all purchases appropriately. You must remember to activate the categories every quarter, or you’ll only receive the 1% cash back rate.

Consider this kind of card if the spending categories match your current lifestyle (in other words, don’t get this card and spend money you usually wouldn’t spend just to get the 5% back) and if you will remember to activate the categories every quarter.

Here are your options for this kind of reward card:

Chase Freedom lets you earn a $150 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. There is a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.24-24.99%. The balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum.

This is the fun part: You can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. The cash back rewards do not expire as long as your card account remains open. There is no annual fee.

Discover It will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. This offer is only for new customers. This card earns 5% cash back in bonus categories that change each quarter (up to the quarterly maximum; requires free activation each quarter). All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

High Cash Back (No Signup Bonus)

If keeping track of rotating categories seems like too much of a hassle, these cards below have a more straightforward rewards structure that doesn’t require much planning.

They offer a good overall reward rate, and if you don’t think you’d spend much in the 5% rotating bonus categories above, you could generally get more cash back with these cards. But the drawback is the lack of a sign-up bonus.

Citi Double Cash earn cash back twice on every purchase. You earn 1% cash back when you buy, and an additional 1% cash back as you pay for those purchases. There is no annual fee.

Is Citi Double Cash Card a Visa? No, Citi Double Cash is a MasterCard. Most merchants accept both Visa and Mastercard. But Costco only takes Visa.

Fidelity Rewards Visa earns unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. 2% cash back credit cards are rare. The catch is that you need a Fidelity account in order to qualify for this card.

How a Cash Back Credit Card Works

Cash back cards are a great way to earn something back for your purchases. They make a great first reward card. They're easy to use and easy to redeem cash back rewards.

How cash back cards workUsually, cash back cards will give you a base of at least 1% cash back on all purchases. Some cards will have special categories that gives you extra cash back, such as at grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, etc. Some cards may actually deposit money into your bank account, while others give you statement credit.

Pick one that matches your lifestyle and spending habitsTo get the most cash back as possible, choose a card that earns bonus cash back in the categories you spend most on. If most of your expenses go towards groceries and gas, then choose a card that focuses on those areas. If your spending is very varied, then you may like a cash that offers a flat reward rate on all purchases.

Pay attention to any extra featuresA lot of cards will give you a one-time bonus if you spend a certain amount after account opening. This sign-up bonus is a great incentive to open a card and get a nice chunk of cash fast. Some cards will also offer an introductory 0% APR period. This is great if you are planning some large purchases soon.

Gas

Look for a card that offers a higher percentage back on purchases at gas stations. See if the rewards it offers match your spending habits.

Here are the two cards we like in particular, both from American Express (a CreditDonkey partner).

Blue Cash Preferred: Earn 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (such as Shell, Mobil, and Exxon). This card has a $95 annual fee, so we recommend you consider this card if you spend at least $9,500/year ($791.67/month) at U.S. gas stations.

Look at this way: Spending $9,500 at U.S. gas stations with the Blue Cash Preferred would earn you $285 cash back vs $190 cash back with the Blue Cash Everyday, which has no annual fee.

If you don't spend $9,500 a year at U.S. gas stations, you may still want to consider the Blue Cash Preferred if you spend a lot at U.S. supermarkets (read the section below on cashback cards for groceries for more information).

Otherwise, consider the Blue Cash Everyday, which offers 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and has no annual fee.

Tip: If you spend less than $833 per month on combined purchases at grocery stores, wholesale clubs, and gas stations, consider this: Bank of America Cash Rewards offers $150 online cash rewards bonus if you spend at least $500 on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. This card earns 1% cash back on all purchases, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas (up to the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter). There is no annual fee.

Get More Cashback on Groceries

When charges at the supermarket make up a big part of your budget, you could see some big savings with a groceries-focused credit card. You'll need to weigh the pros and cons of getting more rewards in exchange for an annual fee vs. fewer rewards and no annual fee.

Blue Cash Preferred: Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6k/year in purchases, then 1%). This card has a $95 annual fee, so we recommend you consider this card if you tend to spend at least $3,167/year (about $263.92/month) at U.S. supermarkets (such as Vons, Winn-Dixie, and Whole Foods). Spending $3,167 at U.S. supermarkets with the Blue Cash Preferred would earn you $190.02 cash back vs $95.01 cash back with the Blue Cash Everyday.

Blue Cash Everyday: If you don't spend at least $3,167/year at U.S. supermarkets, consider the Blue Cash Everyday, which has no annual fee. The Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6k/year in purchases, then 1%).

Tip: Your definition of a supermarket may not match your credit card companies. Check out the American Express Supermarket List before you go ahead with one of these cards to make sure the place you buy groceries is included. Even though warehouse clubs like Costco sell groceries, they are not supermarkets.

Restaurants: Rewards for Dining Out

Spend more time in a restaurant than at the supermarket checkout line? You can also save on your food consumption by getting the right kind of credit card. Take a look at our extensive guide on credit cards for restaurant rewards.

Discover it Chrome will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. This offer is only for new customers. This card earns 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations (on up to $1k in combined purchases every quarter with no quarterly activation required). All other purchases earn 1%.

Still in College?Discover Student It Card will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. This offer is only for new customers. This card earns 5% cash back in bonus categories that change each quarter (up to the quarterly maximum; requires free activation each quarter). All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

Plus, you can earn $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.*

Credit Cards for Small Businesses

You can find lucrative rewards when you choose a business credit card. These cards can be used for a range of business types, including side businesses.

Ink Business Cash lets you earn $300 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. There is no annual fee.

Plus, there is a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. After the intro period, a variable APR applies, currently 14.49% - 20.49%.

Capital One Spark Cash offers a one-time bonus of $500 if you spend $4,500 on purchases within three months of account opening. This card earns 2% cash back on every purchase. There is a $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year).

Travel More

Travelers can get more out of their credit cards if they forget cashback and opt for a travel rewards credit card that earns miles.

If you do not have a particular airline or hotel preference, look for a credit card rewards program with miles that you can redeem toward travel with any airline and any hotel. That way, you'll have more flexibility.

Cash Back Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fee: Did you know, Capital One and Discover has no foreign transaction fees on all their credit cards?

Don't have excellent credit? If you have good credit, consider this: Capital One Quicksilver offers a one-time bonus of $150 if you spend $500 on purchases within three months of account opening. This card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. There is a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 9 months. After that, a variable APR, currently 14.24% to 24.24%. There is a 3% balance transfer fee. There is no annual fee.

If you have average credit, consider this: Capital One QuicksilverOne earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. After making your first 5 monthly payments on time, you can be eligible to receive a higher credit line. There is a $39 annual fee.

High Spenders: Pause Here

Yes, many of these offers have annual fees. But for high spenders, the rewards you'll reap from a premium credit card may offset the annual fee.

But wait. Are you a big spender who routinely carries a balance? Then instead of a rewards credit card, focus on low interest rates instead.

For any type of spender, it does not make sense to chase after rewards if you usually have a balance. The interest rates you will pay over time will wipe out any savings you earn. Focus instead on getting the lowest interest rate you can and try to pay down your debt.

How to Choose a Cashback Credit Card

Compare rewards, annual fees and interest rates to determine the best one for you. Narrow your comparison by reading reviews on the credit card offers with cash back, such as:

Be sure to pick a card that fits your current spending pattern. You will save money with a cash back card as long as you limit your purchases to those you would have made anyway. These types of cards are best for people who both like deals and can pay off their balance each month but also spend responsibly.

Some credit cards with cash back earn more on specific purchase categories, such as gas, restaurants, or groceries. Some have rotating categories of up to 5% cash back that often change every few months and require free enrollment, while others offer a lower, but consistent reward rate year-round.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the author's alone. Please support CreditDonkey on our mission to help you make savvy financial decisions. Our free online service is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Cash Back Rewards:3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, 1% back on other purchases.

Introductory Bonus Cash Back:$150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.

Our Review: If you want a cash back credit card with the same rewards categories year-round and no annual fee, then consider the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. Read on for the pros and cons... Read full review

Cash Back Rewards:6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) - that means spending $60 a week at U.S. supermarkets could earn over $180 back per year. 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, 1% back on other purchases.

Introductory Bonus Cash Back:$200 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.

Our Review: If you are looking to get cashback rewards on common household categories like purchases at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, consider the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Amex created the Preferred card as an upgrade to the Blue Cash Everyday... Read full review

Intro APR for Purchases

Intro APR for Balance Transfer

Regular APR

Annual Fee

0% on Purchases for 12 months

0% on Balance Transfers for 12 months

14.24% - 25.24% Variable

$95

Citi® Double Cash Card earn cash back twice on every purchase. You earn 1% cash back when you buy, and an additional 1% cash back as you pay for those purchases. There is no annual fee.

Our Review: With no annual fee and the opportunity to earn cash back twice, the Citi Double Cash card beats out many cashback credit cards. But are there catches? Read on for the full details... Read full review

Bonus Cash Back:10% Anniversary Bonus on all Cash Rewards earned once a year.

Intro APR for Purchases

Intro APR for Balance Transfer

Regular APR

Annual Fee

N/A

0% Intro APR for 15 months

Variable APR of 14.24%, 18.24% or 24.24%

$0

Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time bonus of $150 if you spend $500 on purchases within three months of account opening. This card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. There is a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 9 months. After that, a variable APR, currently 14.24% to 24.24%. There is a 3% balance transfer fee. There is no annual fee.

Our Review: Capital One Quicksilver offers unlimited 1.5% cash back with no rotating bonus categories or annual fees. Read on to find out if it's worth having... Read full review

Chase Freedom lets you earn a $150 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. There is a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.24-24.99%. The balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum.

This is the fun part: You can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. The cash back rewards do not expire as long as your card account remains open. There is no annual fee.

Our Review: Chase Freedom is one of the best credit cards for cash back, if used the right way. If not, there are drawbacks. Read on for the pros and cons to determine if this card is right for you... Read full review

Intro APR for Purchases

Intro APR for Balance Transfer

Regular APR

Annual Fee

0% for 15 months

0% for 15 months

16.24% - 24.99% Variable

$0

Discover it® - Cashback Match™ will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. This offer is only for new customers. This card earns 5% cash back in bonus categories that change each quarter (up to the quarterly maximum; requires free activation each quarter). All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

Our Review: With bonus cash back, low interest rate and no annual fee, Discover It is a good card for many. Is it right for you? Read on for the pros and cons... Read full review

Intro APR for Purchases

Intro APR for Balance Transfer

Regular APR

Annual Fee

0% for 14 months

0% for 14 months

13.24% - 24.24% Variable

$0

Discover it® for Students will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. This offer is only for new customers. This card earns 5% cash back in bonus categories that change each quarter (up to the quarterly maximum; requires free activation each quarter). All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

Plus, you can earn $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.*

Our Review: College students looking to build credit, earn cash back, and pay no annual fee should consider the Discover It for Students. With the combined generous rewards program, intro APR on new purchases and no late fee on the first late payment, it's clear to see why this Discover student credit card is among the most popular offers for college students on the market today... Read full review

Intro APR for Purchases

Intro APR for Balance Transfer

Regular APR

Annual Fee

0% for 6 months

10.99% for 6 months

14.24% - 23.24% Variable

$0

Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® offers 1% cash back on all purchases. If you pay on time, you can boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month. After you make your first 5 monthly payments on time, you may get access to a higher credit line. There is no annual fee.

Intro APR for Purchases

Intro APR for Balance Transfer

Regular APR

Annual Fee

N/A

N/A

24.99% (Variable)

$0

Discover it® chrome will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. This offer is only for new customers. This card earns 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations (on up to $1k in combined purchases every quarter with no quarterly activation required). All other purchases earn 1%.

Our Review: Do you eat out and drive a lot? If you want cash back rewards without having to think too much, the Discover It Chrome could be the right fit for you... Read full review

Intro APR for Purchases

Intro APR for Balance Transfer

Regular APR

Annual Fee

0% for 14 months

0% for 14 months

13.24% - 24.24% Variable

$0

Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card offers $150 online cash rewards bonus if you spend at least $500 on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. This card earns 1% cash back on all purchases, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas (up to the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter). There is no annual fee.

Intro APR for Purchases

Intro APR for Balance Transfer

Regular APR

Annual Fee

0% Introductory APR on purchases for 12 billing cycles

0% Intro APR for 12 billing cycles for balance transfers made in the first 60 days

14.24% - 24.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

$0

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi earns 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases for the first $7,000 per year, and then 1% thereafter. This card earns 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% cash back on all other purchases. There is no annual fee with your paid Costco membership.

Our Review: The Citi Costco card offers high cash back for gas and Costco purchases, but there are limitations to know before you apply. Read on for the pros and cons... Read full review

Intro APR for Purchases

Intro APR for Balance Transfer

Regular APR

Annual Fee

0%* for 7 months on Purchases*

N/A

16.49%* (Variable)

$0

Discover it® Chrome for Students will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. This offer is only for new customers. This card earns 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations (on up to $1k in combined purchases every quarter with no quarterly activation required). All other purchases earn 1%.

Plus, you can earn $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.*

Our Review: If you are a college student on the go who doesn't have time to juggle rewards categories that change all the time, then you may want to consider the Discover it Chrome for Students card... Read full review

Cash Back Rewards Benefits

Why Choose a Rewards Credit Card with Cash Back

Here are some of the advantages of having cash back rewards:

Cash back is like getting a discount every time you shop. Getting 3% cash back at the gas station is like getting 3% off your total bill. In fact, it's like easy money - you are essentially being paid to use your credit card.

Cash back is easy. Who wants to do math on reward points? With cash back, your return for spending is much easier to understand and the math is minimal (just pay attention to how you'll get the cash - through statement credit, gift card or an actual check).

Besides the credit cards we feature on CreditDonkey, you may also want to check with your local bank or credit union. Most big national banks like Bank of America, Chase, Citi and Wells Fargo have cashback credit cards too.

Cash back makes more sense for some lifestyles than other rewards. Credit cards used to offer airline miles almost exclusively as rewards. Travel rewards and other travel perks are still available on some cards today, but for people who don’t travel much, a cash back reward structure is more useful, convenient, and practical.

What to Watch Out For

Consider these factors before and after you decide on a cash back rewards credit card:

Interest rates: Credit cards with cash back rewards tend to have higher than average interest rates, so make sure you pay the balance in full each month. If you plan to carry a balance, look for a credit card with low interest instead.

Introductory offers: Credit card companies offer a variety of incentives to get you to choose their card, but many of them don’t last long. These range from 0% APR balance transfers for an introductory period, to bonus cash offers for signing up, to 5% cash back on categories that change.

Overspending: Since you’re earning cash back as a percentage of your spending, your rewards increase as you spend more. This can make overspending very tempting. Don’t spend more than you can afford, and always purchase wisely.

Calculate the rewards you could earn with several cards, based on your normal spending habits, to figure out which card will earn you the most rewards. No matter which card you choose, always remember the importance of paying your bill in full each month – or else you will lose out on the reason you chose a cash back card in the first place.

In your quest to get a cashback credit card, you may be torn between the Chase Freedom and the Citi Double Cash Card. Both are great everyday cards for people who want to be rewarded when they go shopping, but the way these cards calculate ...

About CreditDonkey® CreditDonkey is a credit card comparison website. We publish data-driven analysis to help you save money & make savvy financial decisions.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

†Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditDonkey receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CreditDonkey does not include all companies or all offers that may be available in the marketplace.

*See the card issuer's online application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button you can review the terms and conditions on the card issuer's website.

CreditDonkey does not know your individual circumstances and provides information for general educational purposes only. CreditDonkey is not a substitute for, and should not be used as, professional legal, credit or financial advice. You should consult your own professional advisors for such advice.